AddressDoveton College is a unique, diverse and vibrant learning community. It is unlike any other educational setting in Australia. Doveton College resides in one of the most disadvantaged metropolitan regions of Australia. It is the first of a number of settings to be developed which link the Victorian Government and Philanthropic funding organizations.
In 2009, the Colman Foundation approached the Victorian Government with a desire to become directly involved in the education of young people who come from a background of disadvantage, including high migrant and refugee groups. The Colman Foundation provided a financial contribution and continues to provide an annual financial contribution to allow for additional services to be provided which are over and above the normal funding regime for the College. The Foundation has a goal of changing the life opportunities of young people by supporting families and communities access education, health and wrap around services with the school at the center of the services.
Doveton College is complex in its operation; it seeks to support, foster and develop opportunities for all members of the Doveton Community including children, young people, and adults. The focus is on providing high quality teaching and learning programs across the 0 – 15 range with additional learning opportunities for parents and the wider community members. It provides a wide range of wrap-around educational and allied health support for Baby College, Maternal and Child Health services, and Adult Learning opportunities. The Wellbeing team is multidisciplinary, made up of Social Workers, Chaplain, Allied Health staff, Paediatricians, a GP, and family support services. We work closely with Monash Health, DHHS, Child First, Headspace, Windermere and Foundation House.
The Berry Street Education Model was introduced into Doveton College in 2015. Staff have embedded the training, curriculum and strategies to engage even the most challenging students. This education initiative is based on proven positive education, trauma-informed and wellbeing practices that enable students’ academic and personal growth. The model is unique because it educates schools and their leaders to reinforce and sustain cognitive and behavioural change, thereby re-engaging young people in learning and progressing their academic achievement.
On any week, the College is a vibrant learning hub with 130 children in early learning, 640 students in Foundation to Year 9, 150 involved in play groups, 70 regular volunteers and 150 participants in adult education courses. The community expectation is that the College will provide a safe and secure environment where the individual student can learn and develop to their full potential. In the school setting, high quality teaching and learning is non- negotiable.
All staff are expected to commit to driving this agenda by their professionalism and dedication to the Doveton College vision. The Doveton College vision is clear and is based on the belief that every child will succeed.
